A FINE WINE SAFARI

English Sparkling Wines

It was a real priviledge for me recently to travel down to Ancre Hill Estates in Wales with renowned wine critic Neal Martin, to visit the vineyards and winery and taste an extensive selection of their wines. Indeed, Neal Martin only just recently released the Wine Advocate’s first ever English Sparkling Wine Report, scoring a broad cross section of sparkling wines for the publication.

Since the release of their first vintage in 2008, Ancre Hill Estates has been recognised with medals in some of the top international wine competitions in the world, including Decanter, IWSC, IWC and winning the Bollicine del Mondo in 2012.

In order to continue their ongoing development, plans for the construction of a new winery on the Estate were approved in 2012, with the winery building works finished in 2015.

The Ancre Hill Estates Winery represents an extension of their philosophy in the vineyard, namely, external inputs are minimal, with the implementation of sustainable technologies. Natural materials were used over synthetic ones wherever possible with the walls of the winery being constructed from straw bales and a living, green roof, which provides temperature and humidity regulation. Waste water is treated by a series of ecological pools and plantings which also provide many of the plants and wild flowers used in their biodynamic tea treatments for the vineyard.

The style of their wines continues to evolve, with small batch fermentations occurring almost entirely in oak barrels and concrete cuves. Fermentations are solely carried out by wild yeasts and bacteria with the avoidance of filtration and fining for the finished wines wherever possible. Their wines, as with their grapes, are fully DEMETER certified since 2014, adhering to the strictest biodynamic production criteria.

Ancre Hill Tasting:

Blanc de Blancs 2009

5.5 years on lees, Zero dosage, 12% Abv. The first vintage from the Chardonnay Vineyard (planted in 2007). Rich buttery leesy nose with plenty of waxy yellow citrus, yellow orchard fruits, cooked fruits and a dusty minerality. Palate is crystalline and pure, with zesty acids balanced with sherbity mousse and a very long, lingering finish. Harmonious, crisp and characterful.

(Wine Safari Score: 88+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Blanc de Blancs 2010

5.5 years on lees, 11% Abv. Slightly dusty, white citrus nose with white blossom and summer orchard fruits. Just a subtle savoury dimension combined with very fine freshness and leesy aromatic complexity. Mousse is zesty, lively and more grippy, with a cream soda spritz and a very long creamy, lemon sherbet finish. Very fine indeed.

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Greg Sherwood MW is a London based South African Master of Wine and Fine Wine Buyer at Handford Wines in South Kensington. He is a regular judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards, SA Top 100, Nederburg Wine Auction and WOSA World Sommelier Awards, and tastes many of the world's finest wines every week. Join Greg on a safari into wine - you might even spot a few unicorns!